AUSTIN, October 2, 2014 – Natural gas vehicles are catching on with private-sector investors in Texas.

New figures from the Railroad Commission show that investment in natural gas vehicles and fueling stations in Texas totaled $174 million in the past year. The new data reinforce earlier reports that natural gas motor-fuel sales, the number of natural gas vehicles, and the number of natural gas fueling stations are surging in the state.

Texas Railroad Commissioner David Porter, who launched his Natural Gas Initiative to increase the use of natural gas motor fuel in Texas last October, said the figures showed sustainable market growth and support for the Legislature’s public policy goals.

“The close balance—$95 million for natural gas vehicles and $79 million for fueling stations—shows that Texas’ vigorous market growth is sustainable, because we are addressing both sides of the old ‘chicken-and-egg’ problem,” Porter said.

Commissioner Porter is coordinating the first-ever Texas Natural Gas Summit, set for Oct. 23 at the Palmer Events Center in Austin. The Summit will connect job seekers with 60 industry employers, showcase 30 advanced natural gas vehicles, and offer workshops led by fleet managers and oil and gas operators who use natural gas vehicles and off-road engines. For more information, go to the Railroad Commission’s website and search for Summit.